President Biden’s speech was disturbingly slurred and raspy Monday as he called in to his former campaign’s headquarters to vouch for his chosen successor Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I know yesterday’s news was surprising and it was hard for you to hear, but it was the right thing to do,” the 81-year-old president told campaign staff in Wilmington, Del.
“The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn’t changed,” Biden told the staff — phoning in from his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
“I’ll be doing whatever Kamala wants me or needs me to do,” Biden added.
The president’s stunning enunciation came despite presidential physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor saying moments earlier in a public memo that he had all but recovered from a bout of COVID-19.
“It is so good to hear our president’s voice,” Harris said as she spoke after Biden. “You aren’t going anywhere Joe!”
“I’m watching you kid! I love you!” the commander in chief chimed in.
Biden has been out of sight since returning to Rehoboth following his diagnosis and didn’t notify most of his White House and campaign staff before tweeting Sunday afternoon that he was ending his campaign.